Facts About Disney’s Very Own Private Island

Disney Cruise Line ships are so magical, it can sometimes be hard to imagine wanting to get off of one at all. But one look at Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas, and you’ll be booking it off the boat faster than you can say “Mickey Mouse.” Castaway Cay is a port that Disney Cruise Line ships sailing the Caribbean and the Bahamas dock at for a day during the trip, and it is a destination that simply can’t be missed. The island offers both off- and on-land excursions all day, white sand and crystal-clear water, fun for families, and exclusive areas for adults. If you are planning your next Disney Cruise, then make sure you know these Castaway Cay facts before sailing away. Add this to your Disney bucket list!

As with your Disney cruise ship, guests can make all purchases on the island using their Key to the World cards, so make sure to bring it along with you when you dock. The post office on the island, however, accepts USD.

According to Disney, it was the first private island in the cruise industry that offered a place to dock, rather than requiring guests to take tender boats to the island from the boat docked farther out at sea. Very convenient!

Castaways is a running theme on the island, so all of the buildings and attractions are made to look like they were built after a shipwreck (but of course are held to the same Disney standards as the ships and parks — so while they look wrecked, they are actually still immaculate).

4You can plan and book your excursions before you head to Castaway Cay.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White

Cruise-goers will receive an helpful handout the day before leaving for Castaway Cay. The document includes port adventures and excursion ideas, along with pricing, length of activity, age levels, and level of activity required for each outing. Make sure to book packages ahead of time at the Port Adventures Desk on the ship. You can actually start checking out the packages for your cruise up to 120 days prior to your ship’s departure.

Guests who want to get in a little adult time can escape to the Castaway Cay’s Serenity Bay. The exclusive 18 and over beach is a quick bike or tram ride from the dock, and guests can relax and enjoy food and adult beverages to their heart’s desire.

Guests can rent paddleboats, kayaks, bikes, floats, and tubes to enjoy the crystal-clear waters around Castaway Cay. There is snorkeling, parasailing, fishing, swimming, jet-skiing, stingray feeding, and SO much more.

8The food and nonalcoholic beverages on the island are included in your cruise package.

Food and drinks — apart from alcoholic beverages — are part of your Disney Cruise package. There are a few places to grab food on the island: Cookie’s BBQ, Cookie’s Too BBQ, and a spot at Serenity Bay.

Don’t wait until getting back on the ship to find your Castaway Cay keepsakes — they are only sold on the island. Anything you buy can be sent back to the ship for you, so don’t worry about having to lug it around all day.

While there is no potable water naturally on the island, there are plenty of coolers with filtered water you can fill cups or bottles with for free, or you can purchase bottles at the restaurants, bars, and shops. According to Disney, “because there is no potable water on the island, water is procured in Port Canaveral and delivered to Castaway Cay by the ships to an 80,000 gallon fresh water storage tank on the island.”

If warm sand and an ocean-front view isn’t quite complete without a cold drink in your hand, then adult guests can rest assured that there are plenty of drink options for those looking to sip on something a little stronger than soda.

Disney Cruise Line states that “through a unique research project transplanting native sea urchins in rhe Bahamas. The urchins help to control harmful algae levels that can choke out corals, and the project is providing vital research for rebuilding coral reef systems that serve as homes for tropical fish and marine life.”

Before Disney purchased the island in the late 1990s, the island — then Gorda Cay — was once used as a convenient place for drug smugglers to stop. When Disney signed the 99-year lease with the Bahamas, a more Disney-friendly backstory explaining the island’s origins was concocted.